(UPDATE: Despite the report from The Sun, MTV.com has
confirmed with Jackson’s manager that the fighter is not playing the
role of B. A. Baracus in “The A-Team” movie remake.)

Former UFC champion Quinton Jackson has been cast as B. A. Baracus in a film
remake of the popular 1980s action/adventure television series, “The
A-Team,” according to The Sun.

The legendary role was first played on the small screen by Mr. T during the series’ five-season television run from 1983 to 1987.

The film, currently in pre-production, is slated for a June 2010 release.

Although Jackson has not been officially announced as part of the project, Oscar nominee Liam Neeson (playing the role of Col. John “Hannibal” Smith) and “The Hangover” star Bradley Cooper (Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck) are confirmed for the film, which is directed by Joe Carnahan.

In the original version of “The A-Team,” a group of former Vietnam War-era United States Army Special Forces work as soldiers of fortune while running from the military “for a “crime they didn’t commit.”

In the remake, the characters are ex-soldiers of the Iraq War who look to clear their names from a similar offense.

Jackson is no stranger to Hollywood and has had small parts in a variety of recent films and TV shows, including “Never Surrender,” “Hell’s Chain” and “The King of Queens.” Also reportedly in the running for the B. A. Baracus role were Tyrese Gibson and rapper The Game.

Jackson served as a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 10,” which recently concluded taping and debuts next month on Spike TV. He then fights rival coach Rashad Evans in December at UFC 107 in Memphis.

It’s not known how the filming schedule may affect his fighting career, though given the size of the role, Jackson will likely need a decent amount of time away from the cage.

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is probably the greatest female fighter on the planet, which is a tremendous feat. So why are we seemingly so obsessed with arguing about whether she could beat up men?